2 Timothy 4:3, NASB
“For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires.”
When I first began in the ministry almost thirty years ago, I knew a portion of the verse that reads, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge…” So, my thinking was, “Hey that’s it, because people just don’t know and so when they actually do know, everything will be good.” However, now, after years in ministry, I realize that’s not all there is to it and I had failed to read the rest of the verse. That’s only half a verse: “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge (the rest of it goes on to say that) BECAUSE YOU HAVE REJECTED KNOWLEDGE.” That’s the rest of the verse. So…No…Ignorance is not the only problem. It’s not even the biggest problem. The truth is that a lot of folks have heard about Jesus–and have not received Him. Multitudes of people have heard the truth about the Gospel and Word of God and yet they have rejected it. And if you don’t want to hear it then you won’t want to go where it’s actually preached and taught. Therefore many people are wanting to attend where their ears will be tickled. What’s more, if you’re a minister and if your main thing is attracting people that like what you preach, and the goal is drawing the biggest crowd, and being “cool” and “relevant,” then you’ll tend toward ‘adapting’ your message to what’s currently socially, culturally, or politically favored.
Let’s continue looking at this passage from 2 Timothy 4:4-6, NASB: “And they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
As we embark on a brand new year in just a few days, I can only speak for this little evangelist, and I have determined that with God’s help, I will…
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15, NKJV) and to “Preach the Word!” (2 Timothy 4:2, NKJV)
We are currently booking our speaking itinerary with churches through 2026 and increasing our podcasts to reach more people worldwide with the Gospel which is always good news!
